Archive for 12/01/2004 - 01/01/2005
Wow... what a night.
It started with a buffet dinner that was very good, along with an open bar all night... woohoo!
Then... after various people on the team gave speeches, we were told to look under our chairs for an envelope. I was one of the lucky ones with an envelop that won me a free Xbox game! We never win anything... so that was fun for us :)
But the fun doesn't stop there....
They had blackjack, roulette, craps, and texas hold'em talbes set up for us to play on. We were all given $500 in chips to start with... and had to see what we could accumulate at the end of the night. At the end, they gave us a ticket for each $100 in chips we had left... Sarah and I ended up with 30 tickets ! We took those...and placed them in a box for various prizes we wanted a chance to win.
We've been wanting a new digital camera for so long...becuase ours is very slow, and we often miss good poses from Kian. So Sarah put all of her tickets into the drawing for a 5.1 megapixel Sony digital camera. I've been wanting the new Nintendo DS handheld gaming system...so i put all of my tickets into it.
After a few prizes went buy... they came to the Nintendo DS... and Ryan, the Lead Artist, won that. Then it came to the Camera... and Sarah won it! I was stunned... I never would have imagined winning such an awesome prize!
Shortly after that... Ryan pulled me aside. He told me that he heard I wanted the DS really bad... and that he didn't really need it. He gave it to me! I knew Ryan was a nice guy...but I was absolutely stunned. I wanted that so bad...and he just GAVE it to me. Ryan... you sir, are a Class Act. I appreciate it so much.
On a side note... this was the first time that we've left Kian with anyone for more than an hour, and only the 2nd time EVER. Priscilla Rynning (who Sarah lived with when she was in SLO a few years ago doing mission work) came to our house to take care of him...and he did really well. We were so excited to have an evening out to ourselves, and were SO greatful for Priscilla doing this for us.
Anyway... tonight was a BLAST. Thanks Oddworld :)
It started with a buffet dinner that was very good, along with an open bar all night... woohoo!
Then... after various people on the team gave speeches, we were told to look under our chairs for an envelope. I was one of the lucky ones with an envelop that won me a free Xbox game! We never win anything... so that was fun for us :)
But the fun doesn't stop there....
They had blackjack, roulette, craps, and texas hold'em talbes set up for us to play on. We were all given $500 in chips to start with... and had to see what we could accumulate at the end of the night. At the end, they gave us a ticket for each $100 in chips we had left... Sarah and I ended up with 30 tickets ! We took those...and placed them in a box for various prizes we wanted a chance to win.
We've been wanting a new digital camera for so long...becuase ours is very slow, and we often miss good poses from Kian. So Sarah put all of her tickets into the drawing for a 5.1 megapixel Sony digital camera. I've been wanting the new Nintendo DS handheld gaming system...so i put all of my tickets into it.
After a few prizes went buy... they came to the Nintendo DS... and Ryan, the Lead Artist, won that. Then it came to the Camera... and Sarah won it! I was stunned... I never would have imagined winning such an awesome prize!
Shortly after that... Ryan pulled me aside. He told me that he heard I wanted the DS really bad... and that he didn't really need it. He gave it to me! I knew Ryan was a nice guy...but I was absolutely stunned. I wanted that so bad...and he just GAVE it to me. Ryan... you sir, are a Class Act. I appreciate it so much.
On a side note... this was the first time that we've left Kian with anyone for more than an hour, and only the 2nd time EVER. Priscilla Rynning (who Sarah lived with when she was in SLO a few years ago doing mission work) came to our house to take care of him...and he did really well. We were so excited to have an evening out to ourselves, and were SO greatful for Priscilla doing this for us.
Anyway... tonight was a BLAST. Thanks Oddworld :)
I cannot believe that it's nearly Christmas already... where did the time go?
Not only that...but I've now been at Oddworld for just under a year. Seriously... time has gotten away from me.
But I love Christmas... having the house decorated, presents under the tree. The Cat eating the tree branches... climbing the tree... generally being an annyonance. We can't even put ornaments less than 3 feet from the ground, or they mysteriously disappear (peers at the cat).
I'm also SO excited for Kian's first Christmas. Yes, I know he'll have no idea what's going on...but he loves to crinkle paper...so he's gonna have a blast unwrapping his gifts.
Sarah's parents are flying out for Christmas, and that will be awesome. It's tough being so far from most of our family, and nice when we get to see them. Since I'll be off of work for a while, we should have plenty of time to visit and sight see.
ho ho ho
Not only that...but I've now been at Oddworld for just under a year. Seriously... time has gotten away from me.
But I love Christmas... having the house decorated, presents under the tree. The Cat eating the tree branches... climbing the tree... generally being an annyonance. We can't even put ornaments less than 3 feet from the ground, or they mysteriously disappear (peers at the cat).
I'm also SO excited for Kian's first Christmas. Yes, I know he'll have no idea what's going on...but he loves to crinkle paper...so he's gonna have a blast unwrapping his gifts.
Sarah's parents are flying out for Christmas, and that will be awesome. It's tough being so far from most of our family, and nice when we get to see them. Since I'll be off of work for a while, we should have plenty of time to visit and sight see.
ho ho ho
My last rant was about the sillyness that is Bestbuy when you want something new...fast.
Well, to my surprise and amazement... a Gamestop opened in SLO this week! This is a store that sells only video games, so my business will now be shifting to them.
Its nice that SLO is growing...and finally getting some name stores here.
Well, to my surprise and amazement... a Gamestop opened in SLO this week! This is a store that sells only video games, so my business will now be shifting to them.
Its nice that SLO is growing...and finally getting some name stores here.
So... two new video games came out this week that I really want to buy. One yesterday and one today...
So i head to Best Buy to buy them... and what do they tell me? they won't have them until tomorrow and Thursday.
TWO days late on both of them... come on people, games have a release date for a reason... so people can BUY THEM that day.
The worst part about this... is that even though they've made me mad... there isn't anywhere else in San Luis Obispo to buy them.
So i'll have to wait...and they'll get my money anyway.
I'm buying online from now on... screw helping the local community with my business.
So i head to Best Buy to buy them... and what do they tell me? they won't have them until tomorrow and Thursday.
TWO days late on both of them... come on people, games have a release date for a reason... so people can BUY THEM that day.
The worst part about this... is that even though they've made me mad... there isn't anywhere else in San Luis Obispo to buy them.
So i'll have to wait...and they'll get my money anyway.
I'm buying online from now on... screw helping the local community with my business.
You haven't felt your heart melt, until you've seen your child's face light up when you enter the room.
I've been working a lot of hours over the past few months, but have been able to be home at a decent hour over the last couple of weeks. When I walk in the door, Kian gets SO excited. He starts kicking his legs and making happy noises.
I love that kid so much.
It's been a hard 6 months adjusting to him being in our world. He's become our #1 concern in any decision we make. Yes... this is necessary for first time parents, but its also a very difficult transition.
But now, i can't possibly imagine him not being in our lives. Yes, there will continue to be stress, like when he's in the hospital for 9 days with the flu. But, when I come home from work...and see him so excited, I know it's all worth it.
I've been working a lot of hours over the past few months, but have been able to be home at a decent hour over the last couple of weeks. When I walk in the door, Kian gets SO excited. He starts kicking his legs and making happy noises.
I love that kid so much.
It's been a hard 6 months adjusting to him being in our world. He's become our #1 concern in any decision we make. Yes... this is necessary for first time parents, but its also a very difficult transition.
But now, i can't possibly imagine him not being in our lives. Yes, there will continue to be stress, like when he's in the hospital for 9 days with the flu. But, when I come home from work...and see him so excited, I know it's all worth it.
The game project i'm currently working on is titled Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath. It's an Xbox only title, that is scheduled to release on January 25th, 2005.
After spending MANY hours over the last year trying to get this out the door, we are finally in the final hours. Things are slowing down here as we just look for final problems to fix, and wind down toward the Christmas Vacation.
Info on Stranger's Wrath can be found here
Pre-Orders can be made here
After spending MANY hours over the last year trying to get this out the door, we are finally in the final hours. Things are slowing down here as we just look for final problems to fix, and wind down toward the Christmas Vacation.
Info on Stranger's Wrath can be found here
Pre-Orders can be made here
Welcome!
Being a dad is probably the most amazing experience in the world, but it isn't easy. I learn something new every day it seems, and I wanted a way to chronicle this information and share some of my thoughts with others who might be interested.
And now you have it!
I'm going to use this blog to write down ideas about fatherhood, the video game industry, and anything else that may come to mind from now on.
I hope to keep it fairly current, so this will likely be the place to look for updated info about me and the family.
Being a dad is probably the most amazing experience in the world, but it isn't easy. I learn something new every day it seems, and I wanted a way to chronicle this information and share some of my thoughts with others who might be interested.
And now you have it!
I'm going to use this blog to write down ideas about fatherhood, the video game industry, and anything else that may come to mind from now on.
I hope to keep it fairly current, so this will likely be the place to look for updated info about me and the family.
